Plaster-board-drying apparatus



Dec. 15, 1925- 1,565,984

H. B. BRCKENBROUGH PLAsTxzR BOARD DRYING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July v, 1922 Dec. l5. 1925' 1,565,984

- H. B. BROCKNBROUGH rms'mn BOARD DRYING APPARATUS Filed July 7, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J3nM.3333J.3333

Dec. 15, 1925 H, B. BRQCKENBRQUGH PLSI'ER BOARD DRYNG APPARATUS v Y y Filed July v, 1922 4A shets-sheet a mentor Izbmgg www Dec. l5, 1925 1,565.984

' H. a. BRocKENBRouGH PLASTER BOARD DRYING APPARATUS Filed July '7, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 15, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUGH B. BROCKENBROUGE, OF FORT DODGE, IOJVA, ASSTGNOR TO ,TBLYMOUTH GYP- SUM COMPANY, FORT DODGE,

lOVA, A COPJEORATEON OF IOVTA.

PLASTER-BOARD-'DRYIN G APPARATUS.

Application filed July 7, 1922.Y Serial No. 573,352.

To all 'whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, Hoei-r B. BRooKnN- BaoUoi-r, a citizen ot' the United States, and a resident ol Fort Dodge, in the county of lobster and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plaster-Board-Drying Apparatus, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to improvements in plaster board drying apparatus, and more particularly tor an vapparatus torining that part ol' plaster board making machinery which receives thegrecfir7 board as it is delivered from the plaster board machine, and handles it preparatory to and during 'the drying process. y

The object or" the invention is to provide a new and novel construction for an appaia tus of the character described whereby a distinct improvement in the method of drying boardinay be carried out with a View to promoting greater production, less wastage, and less manual labor.

Heretofore the practice has been to transport thejsheets ot plaster board from the delivery belt of the machine onto cars or overheadcarriages, and wheel them into the drying kilns, all handling of the board being accomplished by manual labor, and owing to the moist condition of the product, the exercise or care and skill is required to avoid breakage, and consequent spoiling ot the product. y

In the method continnplated by the use of the apparatus about to be disclosed, the sheets 'of plaster board are delivered 'latwise into open ended cars which, when loaded according to a delinite plan or arrangement are connected end to end, forming a. continuous closed duct .or chamber through which heated air is blown.

lVith the foregoing rsume of the general procedure involved, `the mechanism will now be described in connection with the accompanying d lawings, in which Fig. l is a general view of the delivery and loading apparatus as it appears in side elevation,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of a single car iu the process et being loaded and showing the elevator and loading rack in detail,

Fig. 3 is a detail view in vertical section on line 3, 3 oil Fig. 2, showing the various details of construction,

Fig. 4 is a fragn'ientary view of a car showing the construction of the bottom ends and supporting members,

Fig. 5 is a view showing the manner in which several cars are coupled together during the drying operation, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view oi a sheet of plaster board.

For the purpose otmore clearly understanding the function oi the apparatus, it may be explained that a plaster board machine consists in part ot an endless conveyor belt which transports the freshly made board from the head end Where the board is made, Vby a continuous process consisting ot feeding wet stucco between ysheets of paper which are passed through rolls to reduce the product to a sheet of uniform thickness (Fig. (S). During its travel along the slowly moving belt the stucco has an opportunity to set and as it nears the delivery end is cut into suitable lengths ot' say ten feet. In Fig. l, the delivery end of the belt l of the plaster board machine is shown, being supported upon a rolle-1' 2. Just beyond. the end of the belt and in the pla-ne of the top surface thereof is au overhead track 3 consisting of a multitude of transverse rollers along which the cut boards are pushed or advanced they leave the belt l. This track 3 may be of any desired length although it usually spans a comparatively short distance to the loading apparatus, which will first be described in such a way s to give theI relative location of the main parts.

Mounted on a track l on the ground level are cars 5, 5 uncoupled and spaced apart on opposite sides of an upright 'frame consisting of vertical posts S and cross beams erected over the track and extending above the cars. This irame supports an elevator 8 suspended from cables 9 ruiming over sheaves l() at the top of the traine and carrying counter weights 1l Vat the free ends. The elevator is a platform made up ot rollers 8 similar to the transporting track 3 and in its elevated position `terms a continuation thereofl just beyond its outer end. The eievater is adapted to move upwardly and downwardly between the adjacent ends of the cars 5, 5, the counterweights being so adjusted that the weight of a single board upon the elevator will carry it downwardly, and when removed the elevator will travel upwardly to its starting position in the 1plane of the tracl; 8.

Beneath tne portions of the traclzs d upon which the cars stand when being loaded are pits 12, 12 in which are mounted vertically moving platforms 13, 13 supported beneath upon a plunger rod 1e acting as a guide. Counterweights 15 and cables 16 traveling over sheaves 16a support the platforms so that they may be readily elevated or depressed by means and in a manner hereinafter to be described. Erected upon the platforms are a multitude of vertical uprights 17 arranged in pairs spaced apart along the sides of the platforms, each pair of uprigbts supporting between their upper ends a roller 1S, all lying in the same horizontal plane with open spaces therebetween. The purpose of the platforms 1G and their rollers 18 will presently be made clear.

It is evident from the foregoing that the cars 5, 5 and the platforms 13 beneath are duplications of each other, merely arranged on opposite sides of the elevator S. This can be readily explained as beingl desirable for a practical reason, namely, that the boards are delivered continuously from the machine and therefore provision is made for continuous loading or delivery onto the cars, which are loaded alternately, so that each car as it is loaded may be removed and an empty car brought up in position for loading.

Referring now to the construction of the cars 5, 5, the same are not unlike openended box cars, although preferably of metal construction throughout. The side and top walls il() and Q1 are of sheet metal. The ends of the cars have considerable overhang and the end edges treated in any suitable manner, such as by overlapping or telescopic flanges 23 (Fig. i) so that when two cars are coupled together the ends will be sealed. The interior of each car is divided vertically lirough the entire available height by shelves or tiers spaced apart one above the other, a distance of say two inches, so that a length of board can rest on each tier with ample air space between. These tiers are constructed of cross bars 2li in the form of channel bars turned on edge and spaced apart a distance of say four inches in a horizontal direction. The individual bars 24 of each tier are further alined vertically so that open vertical spaces extend between the vertical rows of bars the full height of the car (Fig. rllhe bottom wall 425 of the car is of what may be termed open construction, having' transverse slots 25a directly beand operated at one end so that all doors y may be opened and closed simultaneously.

The operation of the apparatus so far as it involves the parts thus far described, will now be explained. lt has already been mentioned that the boads are delivered onto the overhead rack 3, being advanced by thel boar ls immediately behind. Each board is thus delivered from the track 3 onto the elevator S, the weight of the board overcoming the counterweights and the elevator denned that the left hand car is being loaded (Fig. Q) and the elevator is carrying a single board A downwardly to he loaded onto the third tier from the top, the two upper tiers having already been loaded. Before the loading of the car is commenced, however, the following operations are carried on. The car is brought to rest over the pit 'l2 so that the slots 52.53 in the bottoni wall 25 are directly over cach pair of uprights 1T and rollers 18 carried by the platform 13 By means of a vertical racl; 98 extending upwardly from the platform exterior of the car and a rock pinion 29 mounted on a shaft 30 operated by a hand wheel 31 from the side of the car, the platform is elevated so that the rollers pass upwardly through the bottom of the car and the open spaces above, and brought to rest just above the plane of the topmost tier or shelf, inasmuch as the platform 13 is made heavier than the counterweights l5 means are en'iploycd for holding the platform in elo ated position, namely, a ratchet wheel 332 mounted on the shaft 3b and a pawl or trip inen'iber 3S which holds the platform in elevated position until released by trip mechanism so arranged that with each downward and upward travel of the elevator, the trip member 33 releases the ratchet wheel, permitting the platform to drop downwardly to the next tier, that is, a distance of two inches.

The trip mechanism consists of a vertical lever 34s pivoted intermediate its ends upon the adjacent upright (i of the elevator supporting frame, its lower end being pivotallv connected to the trip member SIB. The trip member is a horixontally sliding bar engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel at its forward end. At the rear end ofthe trip member is a compression spring 35 hearing at its forward end against the end of the lever 3l and at its rear lend against a fixed bearing 36 in which the trip member slides, said spring Vacting to hold the trip 'member in 'engagement with the ratchet Wheel 32. To the upper end of the lever 34 is pivotally connected another endwise sliding bar 37, eX- tending into the path of the adjacent end of the elevator. As the velevator ascends to loading position the edge of the elevator strikes 'against the end of the contact bar 37 as it passes, operating the lever 3ft to release the trip member 33 from the ratchet wheel, thus permittting the platform 13 to drop one-halt the distance to the tier below. As the elevatoragain `descends with a board thereon, the tripping is repeated, and the ratchet wheel allows the platform to descend the remaining distance, bringing it to rest in its proper position to receive the board shown in Fig. 2. Additional means, however` must be provided for bringing the elevator to rest opposite each tier on its downward travel..

This is accomplished by means ot a stop member 38 consisting of a vertical rupright mounted upon the platform 13 and extending upwardly in the path oit the elevator7 the uspper'end of thestop member terminating a short `distance below thelevel of the rollers 18. Manifestly as 'the platform descends to successive tier levels, the stop member descends the same distance, so that when the elevator strikes it, the same comes to rest with the board in alinement with the rollers 18.

Thus the boards are successively7 'delivered to the tiers, anda slight forwardmovement carries them 'onto the rollers 18 and throughout the length ofthecaigsaid rollers being elevatedhjust above the supporting` members 24 5 lso 4that as the platform is dropped by the tripping operation, which immediately follows, lthe boards 4are `deposited upon the supporting members. After one ot the cars is filled, the one on the opposite side is loaded in thesame manner, the jplatiiornil beingl then dropped into the pit 12 below, and the doors 26 ol the loadedcar are closed, and the same switched onto another 4track so that an empty car may be brought up and prepared for loading.

New, assumingthatffa considerable number of loaded cars have ibeen' assembled on the same track, they are then coupled `together with their open ends telescoped together, thereby forming'acoritinuous chamber trom one end ot 'thecars to the other. Thus coupled and assembled, the cars are then wheeled up to afla'rge funnel-shuped hood 110 which lits against the open end ot' the toremost car. 'Connected with this hood -is a blower Ltlvadapted to draw heated air from a suitable source of supply, and force it through the'entirelength of the train ot coupled cars, whereby `the 'moisture is removed in the same manner ns in 'a drying' kiln.

When cried the boards are unloaded and made ready 'for shipment.

`It is to be observed that by using the apparatus herein disclosed, the handling oi the board in its green state is not oniy done without lifting or turning them on edge, but they are delivered from the machine onto the elevator and from the elevator into the cars ina tlatwise positiointhereby eliminating all strains which would tend to crack the stucco or Ybreak the moist paper coverings.

The advantage, therefore, ot the method carried on by the apparatus, is a material decrease the amount of board that is spoiled and therefore wasted` as well as the elimination ot all handling ol the board by hand, other than that required in guiding the saine to and trom the eievator, and pushing them into the cars.

The details ot construction may be variously modified without departing` from the spirit ot the invention, and therefore I do not wish to be limited except in so far as the invention is specifically set 'forth in the appended claims.

l claim:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination ot an eleva-tor, means tor delivering boards onto said ele; vater, means permittingv said elevator to descend by the weight oi a board delivered thereon, a tier o't board supporting` members located adjacent the path of said elcif'ator, and means Vfor bringing said elevator to rest in unloadi-ng positions opposite successive 'supporting members of said tier.

2. In an apparatus ot the character de scribed, the combination oi a counter-balanced elevator, tiers oi' supporting elements adjacent the path of said elevator, means for delivering lboards successively onto said elevator whereby the same descends under the weight thereof, and trip operated stop mechanism acting to bring said elevator 'to rest in unloading position opposite successive boardsreceiving members from top Vto bottom ot said tier.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a counter-bal anced elevator -adaptedto assume a loading position when empty, means `for delivering boards successively onto said elevator in loading position whereby said elevator descends under the weight thereof, tiers ot horizontal supporting members in the path ot said elevator, and means cooperating with said elevator for bringing the same to rest, in successive 'unloading positions utter each board is delivered thereon.

11. In an apparatus Aot the character described,` the combination of a counterbalvanced elevator normally assuming an elevated 'loading position, lmeans for 'delivering boards onto said elevator in 4loading position wherebysaid'elevator descends toward suclltl cessive unloading positions, and means for stopping the descent of said elevator at different unloading positions, and trip mechanism operated by said elevator and acting to shift said stopping means after each movement o'l said elevator to one of said unloading positions.

5. ln an apparatus of the character described, the combination ot a eounterbalancet elevator', means tor delivering boards successively onto said elevator at the upper end oit its path ol movement, a vertically movable stop member in the path of said elevator, and tripping means operated by said elevator and acting to permit said stop member to be shifted into successive unloading positions.

6. ln an apparatus of the character de` scribed, the combination oi an elevator, means for delivering boards successively onto said elevator in loading position, a receiving member adapted to be positioned adjacent the path ot said elevator and comprising a tier ol horizontal supporting members, means it'or bringing said elevator to rest in unloading positions opposite successive supporting members, and a vertically movable platform comprising horizontally arranged rollers adapted to be brought successively7 in the plane ot said elevator in its several unloading positions.

T. ln an apparatus ot the character described, the combination ot an elevator, means lor delivering boards succalsively onto said elevator in loading position, a wheeled housing adapted to be positioned adjacent said elevator 'for loading and provided with tiers ot horizontal supporting elements therein, a vertically7 movable plat- 'lorm comprising a horizontal row ot rollers movable vertically within said housing and co-operating with said elevator tor delivering the boards successively into said housing.

8. ln an apparatus ot the character described, the combination ot an elevator, means lior delivering boards successively onto said elevator at one end oi" the path ot' movement, a wheeled housing adapted to be positioned adjacent the path olf said elevator for loading and provided with a tier oi" board-supporting members therein, a plattorm comprising rollers movable vert-ically in said housing, mechanism for controlling the movement ot said platform whereby the same registers with successive tiers, and means i'or bringing said elevater to rest at the level ot said rollers for unloading.

9. ln an apparatus of the character described, the combination oli an elevator, means tor delivering boards successively to said elevator in loading position, means for counter-balancing said elevator whereby the same will descend by gravity under the Weight of its load to unloading position, a wheeled housing. positioned at the unloadmg position of said elevator, and means for stopping said elevator in successive unloading positions.

lt). In an apparatus of the character described, the combination ot an elevator, means lor delivering boards successively to said elevator in loading position, means for coumer-balancing said elevator whereby the same descends by gravity Linder the weight ot each board to unloading position, a wheeled housing adapted to be loaded from said elevator, and comprising tiers o'l`: supporting members, and means tor bringing said elevator to rest opposite successive tiers 'tor unloading.

ll. ln an apparatus of the character described, the combination ot an elevator, means for delivering boards successively to said elevator in loading position, a wheeled housing comprising tiers ot horizontal supporting members, a horizontal roller trackmovable vertically within said housing and adapted to be successively brought to rest substantially in the place of said tiers, and trip mechanism operative in the movement ot' said elevator Ator controlling the movemeut ot' said roller track whereby the same registers with said elevator in successive positions tor unloading onto said tiers.

i2. ln an apparatus of the character described, the. combination of an elevator', means for delivering boards successively to sait elevator in loading position, means tor coiinter-balancing said elevator whereby it will descend by gravity under the weight ot each board to unloading positions, a wheeled housing open at its end adjacent the path ot said elevator and comprising1 tiersv of supporting members, a platform movable vertically within said housing and comprising rollers forming a horizontal track adapted to be successively brought to rest substantially in the plane of said tiers, and mechanism operative in the movementlv ot said elevator tor controlling the movement ot said plattorm whereby said track registers with said elevator in successive positions for unloading.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of an elevator, means tor delivering boards successively to said elevator in loading position, means for counter-balancing said elevator whereby it will descend by gravity under the weight oi each board to unloading positions and return to loading position when said board is removed, a wheeled housing open at its end and adapted to be loaded from said elevator in unloading positions-and comprising tiers or supporting members, a vertical movable roller track within said housing for facilitating the delivery of the boards from said elevator into said housing, and means tor bringing said elevator to restat the successive levels ot said roller track.k

14. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of an elevator, means for delivering' boards tlatwise upon said elevator in loading position, means for counter-,balancingsaid elevator whereby it will descend by gravity under the weight of each board to unloading position, a wheeled housing adapted to be loaded from said ele vator and to support them in flatwise positions, a vertical movable roller track associated with the housing for delivering the boards from said elevator into final position, trip mechanism controlled by the movement of said elevator for lowering said roller track to successive loading positions, and means carried by said roller track for bringing said elevator to rest at the successive levels of said roller track.

l5. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a housing adapted to receive boards for drying, and comprising tiers of horizontal supporting members, a roller track adapted to be moved vertically within said housing, means for delivering boards to said housing for loading onto successive tiers, and means for moving said roller track from one tier to the next, as each tier is successively loaded.

16. In an apparatus of the character dcs-cribed, the combination of a drying lionsing, comprising tiers of ilixed supporting members spaced apart with vertical spares therebetween, a platform beneath said housing and supporting a roller track adapted to travel within said vertical spaces ot the housing and to be successive-ly positioned in the plane ot said tiers, means for delivering boards successively onto said track, and means for automatically lowering said track .trom one tier to the next as each is loaded.

l; In an apparatus ol' the character described. the combination oit a drying housing liuiviugr a receiving opening, and supporting members arranged in horizontal and vertical rows with vertical spaces therebetween, a platform mounted below said housing and con'iprising a roller track movable vertically between the vertical rows ot supporting members, means 't'or delivering boards o pposite the level oi. the horizontal rows ot' supporting members, and means 'or intermittently lowering said platform to successive loading levels.

lS. l1; an apparatus ol the character described. the combination ot a drying housing having a receiving opening' and supporting members arranged in horizontal and ver` tical rows and. forming tiers with vertical spaces therebetween, a platform mounted below said housing and comprising a roller track movable vertically within the vertical spaces between said supporting members, an elevator adapted to receive boards in :its

.said rollers providing loading position, and to be lowered by gravity to unloading position opposite successive tiers, trip mechanism operated by the movement ot said elevator tor lowering said roller track in line with successive tiers, and a stop member mounted on said roller track Yfor bringing said elevator to rest in horizontal alinement with said roller track in its several unloading positions.

it). In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a. drying housing having a receiving opening and supporting` members arranged in horizontal and vertical rows and forming tiers with vertical spaces therebetween, a vertically `movable platform below said housing and supporting a roller track, lthe several elements thereot projecting upwardly within the vertical spaces between said supporting members, an elevator adapted to receive boards in its loading position and to be lowered to unloadingA position opposite successive tiers, trip mechanism operated by the movement of said elevator tor lowering said platform to the level ot successive tiers, and a stop member mounted on said platform for bringing said elevator' to restin horizontal. alinenient. with said roller track as it descends to successive levels.

20. In an apparatus of the character described, the coi'nbinz'ition o'lE a car having tiers of supporting membersV spaced apart horizontally to t'orm vertical spaces therebetween, a platform mounted beneath said car in loading position and comprising uprights supporting rollers therelwtween, said ar having openings in its bottom wall whereby said rollers may enter the vertical spaces between said supporting members,

a track for the flatwise loading ot' boards upon said tiers.

ill. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination oit a car having tiers ol supporting members spaced apart horizontally to `form vertical spaces therebetween, a platform mounted beneath said car and con'iprising uprights supporting rollers therebetween, said car having openings in its bottom wall whereby said rollers may enter the vertical spaces between said supporting members, said rollers providing a track for facilitating thel loading oi boards upon said tiers. i i

In an apparatus of the character described, the combination ol a car open at its end and having tiers ot supporting members spaced apart horizontally to form vertical spaces therebetween and openings in the bottom wall in alinement with said vertical spaces, a pit formed beneath said car, a platform mounted in said pit and comprising pairs of uprights having rollers journalled between their upper ends, said platform being adapted to be elevated to carry said rollers upwardly into said vertical spaces loo thereby forminga roller traek (3o-operating with said support-ing 'members for the delivery of boards onto said tiers.

23. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a ear open at its end and having tiers of supporting members spaced apart horizontally to form vertical spaces therebetween and openings in the bottom Wall in alinement, with said vertical spaces, a pit formed beneath said ear, a counter-balanced platform mounted in said pita-nd comprising pairs of uprights havine' rollers journalled between their upper ends, said plattform being adapted to be elevated to earr)7 Said rollers upwardly into said vertical Spaces thereby iiorn'iing a roller track cooperating with said Supporting members` for delivering boards into said ear, and doors hinged to the bottom ivall openings of said ear i'or closing the same when said rollers are removed after loading.

ln Witness whereof, hereunto subscribe my name this 30 day ot' June, A. D., 1922.

HUGH B. BROGKENBROUGH. 

